Mr Charles Ruddock
Principal Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist
BA, GradDipPsych, MAPsych, MAPS
Clinics: St Albans, Bundoora, Dandenong
Has spent 12 years working as a psychologist in hospital and private practice settings. This has included assessing and treating patients, managing and supervising multi-disciplinary teams, developing and delivering training and providing consultancy services. Has strong clinical skills in a range of areas with a particular interest in: chronic pain conditions, stress conditions, workplace injuries (physical and stress related), returning to work after a workplace injury (physical or stress related).
Joon Choi
Clinical Psychologist
BSc(Hons), MSc, PgDipClPs
Clinics: St Albans, Boronia, Dandenong
Joon completed his Clinical Psychology training in New Zealand and has wide-ranging experience working in Health, Forensic, and Community settings across a number of different population groups. This has involved clinical roles in assessment and therapy, both as a lead clinician and as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team. Joon has a strong adherence to evidence-based practice in psychological assessment and treatment, based on a firm grounding in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Joon prioritises client engagement with strong interpersonal skills, guided by an underlying commitment to responsive and empathic practice.
Joanna Paterson
Clinical Psychologist
BA(Hons), MPsych(Clin)
Clinics: Boronia, Dandenong
Joanna is a registered psychologist and has experience working in hospital settings as well as in private practice. Joanna has an interest in persistent pain and adjustment issues, and uses a variety of evidence based therapies to help her clients achieve their therapy goals. Therapy modalities may include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Schema Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Joanna has sound clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of a variety of concerns, including mood and anxiety disorders, adjustment disorder, pain, trauma, grief, and personality disorder.
Joanna has a warm and empathetic style and strives to provide clients with a safe and non-judgemental space in which to explore their thoughts and concerns.
Seán O’Donoghue
Clinical Psychologist
BA, PhD, DPsychSc
Clinic: Bundoora
Seán is a registered clinical psychologist and has a special interest in psychological aspects of health. He completed a PhD in the neuropsychology of multiple sclerosis and then completed a doctorate in clinical psychology, both at University College Dublin. Seán also works as a clinical psychologist at the Barbara Walker Centre for Pain Management, at St Vincent’s Hospital, and also as lecturer and researcher at the Australian Catholic University. Seán adopts a person-centred approach with his clients, and predominantly uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Hema Navaratnam
Psychologist
BPsych, MPsych(Couns), MAPS
Clinic: Hoppers Crossing
Hema is a Registered Psychologist and has worked in various health care settings including hospital, research and private practice. Having worked in a variety of areas including cardiac, respiratory, oncology and neurology, she has now developed an interest in persistent pain. Hema has clinical skills in assessing, managing and treating a wide range of mental health problems combined with a strong patient centred approach. She commenced working with Advance Healthcare in 2016
Melinda Rak
Clinical Psychologist
BBNSc, GDipPsych, MPsych(Clin), MAPS
Clinics: Boronia, St Albans
Melinda has always been intrigued by the mind-body connection. This curiosity led her to complete a Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience and a Master of Clinical Psychology. Melinda is a registered Clinical psychologist and has experience in hospital, EAP, corporate and private practice settings.
Melinda’s clinical approach is one of collaboration and compassion; she enjoys working with clients to achieve their goals so they can go on to lead rich and fulfilling lives. She draws on cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and humour in her practice. Melinda has a keen interest in pain management, sleep and anxiety concerns.
Melinda is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, the APS College of Clinical Psychologists, and the Australian Clinical Psychology Association. When she’s not working, Melinda is out playing netball or exploring Melbourne’s restaurant scene
Susanna Blagin
Psychologist
BS, Grad Dip(Psych)
Clinic: Dandenong
Susanna is a registered psychologist with experience in public and private settings. She has many years of experience in assessment, diagnosis and the provision of evidence-based psychological treatments including cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. She has worked with a variety of mental health difficulties and across the lifespan (children, adolescents, adults and older adults). She takes a humanistic approach and places a great deal of value in the therapeutic relationship.
She is currently completing her Masters of Clinical Psychology.
Robert Potter
Psychologist
BSci, BAppSci (Psych)(Hons) MPsych (Clinical)
Clinic: St Albans
Robert is a registered psychologist and Clinical Psychology Registrar. He started working with Advance Healthcare in February 2020. Robert comes from a background of working within a health and hospital setting with a broad range of physical health concerns, including pain conditions. He has a strong interest in applying psychological approaches to the management of persistent pain and other primarily physical health problems. Robert also works at Western Health in an outpatient rehabilitation setting.
Robert is experienced in applying evidence-based therapies in his work, and his primary treatment modality is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. He is also experienced in taking a trauma-informed approach to a patient’s care. Robert is comfortable working with patients from a broad range of backgrounds and with a variety of presenting complaints. He takes a recovery-oriented approach and enjoys working collaboratively with patients towards greater life satisfaction and fulfilment.
Kate Pearson
Clinical Psychologist
BA(Hons), MPsych(Clin)
Clinic: Bundoora
Ms Kate Pearson completed her Master degree in Clinical Psychology at Edith Cowan University, and has attained endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist with the Psychological Board of Australia. She has had clinical experience in a range of settings, including private practice as well as rehabilitation and hospital settings, and has worked with individuals across the lifespan. Kate has experience working with trauma and is trained in Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). In session, she utilises a range of evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure-based Response Prevention Therapy and Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT). Kate is a highly motivated individual who is committed to providing the highest quality service to each of her clients. Kate believes it is vital that clinicians work in a respectful and collaborative manner with clients, walking alongside them ever-mindful of the personal values of her clients. Kate seeks to integrate the ever-evolving body of psychological knowledge with a warm, client-centered approach to therapy.
Tess Ryan
Psychologist
BPsych(Hons), MPsych(Clinical)
Clinic: St Albans
Tess is a compassionate and client-centred therapist who aims to provide a non-judgemental and collaborative therapeutic space, in which clients feel comfortable to explore their concerns. Tess is dedicated to the beneficial growth of clients, through communication, goal setting, self-advocacy, and psychological interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and motivational interviewing. Tess has experience in private practice, hospital, and forensic settings, assisting clients with a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, interpersonal difficulties, substance use issues and chronic pain conditions. Tess also has experience in counselling individuals and facilitating group-based treatment across a number of different settings.
Tess has a passion for working with clients with chronic pain conditions, having previously delivered vocational counselling, health coaching, rehabilitation case management, injury management and support services for clients who suffered from physical and mental injuries resulting from disability, workplace injury, and traffic-related injuries.
Stella Mihailova
Psychologist
GDipPsych, PostgradDipPsych, DoctorClinicalPsych
Clinic: Bundoora
Stella is a registered psychologist and has practised in hospital settings and the public mental health sector, providing both individual and group therapy. This has included working with clients presenting with depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, adjustment and sleep difficulties, often in the context of illness, injury or other life stressors. She has experience using a range of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Stella offers a warm, empathic, and non-judgmental space for clients to explore current difficulties and develop strategies for reaching their goals.
Alison Crotty
Psychologist
MHealthPsych
Clinics: Hoppers Crossing, Geelong
Alison’s professional background includes teaching, and health and safety in the manufacturing and welfare sectors. She holds a Masters degree in Health Psychology from Monash University. This was where her interest in chronic pain began, with a thesis on the relationship between self-efficacy and chronic pain in a rural population. Alison ran her own generalist psychology practice in East Gippsland for six years, sharing her expertise in pain management with as many local practitioners and clients as possible. Most recently, Alison has worked in a multidisciplinary pain clinic with clients with severe, long-term chronic pain. Alison started working at Advance Healthcare in 2020